A Stranger Is a Friend You Haven't Met is the latest EP from Busy Bee Project, a.k.a. Deb Gilmore. It is out now via Good How Are You Records. A free-floating, folk dream commences as one listens to this five-song selection. Absorbed in the casual, upbeat instrumentation and the inviting, natural elegance of Gilmor's vocals, one quickly feels at home in these new sonic surroundings. From the moment of introduction, a new affection is forged.

The dusty haze of Pet's folky, lo-fi melodies is breezy, simultaneously soothing, and emotively affects. With Hell Yeah Ulysses, the group taps into a sparse simplicity - one which highlights the pleasant, loose, jangly stir, without obscuring the lyrics. Much like the sparkle of sunlight off the morning dew, there’s a delight in the natural whimsy of it all. This new collection of songs quickly forges a memorable familiarity, as if they were always there.

And Then You Were Gone is the new EP from Philly quartet Black Horse Motel, and is out now via Single Batch Records. Fortified with succinct harmonies, the country-folk hybrid emotionally pulls as the dramatic momentum of strings accents the intense nature of each recording. There’s a smoke-clearing suspense that exhibits personal strength yet still aches.

“Without” is the latest single from North Carolina transplant and singer-songwriter Jonny Clousson. The song ponders the potential changes that life will bring, after moving on from someone. It takes that emotive leap forward, and creates an enthusiastic/ailing dynamic. You can catch Clousson performing this Saturday, August 11 at Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse, along with Josh Alvarez and Nathan Gray.

The Burlington-based folk trio Emma Cook & Questionable Company has a mythic origin story; co-creators Andy Feltus and Max Guyton began playing music together as roommates at the University of Vermont, and later met Emma — with whom Andy fell in love. The trio played their first show together on Halloween in 2012, and have been an unstoppable force ever since. Yesterday, the trio released their newest single “You Know Why” (streaming below), a jazzy folk track that leverages Emma’s incomparably smooth vocals to create something that sounds close to magic. Their next show will be at ArtsRiot in Burlington on August 9. - Lilly Milman, photo by Kayhl Cooper

The Deli Magazine was born in NYC's Attorney Street in 2004, in the shape of a print issue with a then unknown band on its cover, called Grizzly Bear. Ths NYC blog came in 2005, then the SF one in 2006, and then 9 more in the following years. The Deli is focused on the coverage of emerging bands and solo artists with a 100% local focus - no exceptions!